Download Classical Period - AJHS General Music

Classical Period
1750-1825
Classical Timeline
Classical Period
• Era is referred to as Balanced,
Symmetrical, & Traditional with clarity
• Piano is the most important keyboard
instrument
• 2 outstanding choral composers of the
Classical Era: Mozart, Haydn
• Singers and instrumentalists used
continuous tonality as a special effect
6 Features of Baroque Music vs.
Classical Period Music
• 1. terraced dynamics------------gradual
changes in dynamics
• 2. unity of mood------------------mood may
change throughout a movement
• 3. continuous melody------------melody will
change throughout (theme 1 and 2 are
different)
• 4. continuous and driving rhythm----rhythms
are not predictable or repetitive
6 Features of Baroque Music vs.
Classical Period Music
• 5. chords and the basso continuo----NO
MORE BASSO CONTINUO
• 6. polyphonic texture---------homophonic
texture (polyphonic is reserved for
development)
Chronology of the Classical Era
• 1750- Classical Era begins
• 1751- First volumes of “Poor Richard’s
Almanac” are published by Benjamin
Franklin
• 1754 Samuel Johnson publishes a
dictionary
• 1756- French and Indian Wars begin
• 1756- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is
born in Salzburg on January 27th
Chronology of the Classical Era
• 1761- Franz Joseph Haydn is hired by
Prince Paul Esterhazy
• 1763- Excavations begin at Pompei
• 1769-The steam engine is patented by
American James Watt
• 1770-Mozart receives the Order of the
Golden Spur from the Pope
• 1774- The first Continental Congress
assembles in Philadelphia
Chronology of the Classical Era
• 1776- The Declaration of Independence
is signed
• 1780- Empress Maria Theresa of
Austria dies and her son, Joseph II,
becomes ruler
• 1788- American John Finch invents the
steamboat
• 1789- George Washington becomes the
first president of the United States
Chronology of the Classical Era
• 1791- Mozart dies on December 5th
• 1798- Haydn writes “The Creation” and
“The Imperial Mass”
• 1803- The Louisiana Purchase
• 1804- Napoleon is crowned Emperor of
France
• 1804- Lewis & Clark expedition of the
western United States
Chronology of the Classical Era
• 1815- The metronome is invented
• 1819- Florida is purchased from Spain
Happening in America during the
Classical Era
• Francis Hopkinson was born in Philadelphia
in 1737 and wrote the first America Secular
Song, “My Days Have Been So Wondrous
Free”
• William Billings was born in 1746
• Benjamin Franklin invented the glass
harmonica
• George Mueller, who came to America in
1784, was the first major Moravian composer
of sacred music
Happenings in America during the
Classical Era
• Francis Hopkinson was considered an
outstanding American composer and
harpsichordist. He also signed the
Declaration of Independence
• Moravians believed that all hymns
should be translated into a Native
American language
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Born in 1756
• Was 1 of 7 children (all died within 3
weeks of birth except him and his sister,
Maria Anna)
• He was the only son in his family who
lived
• Father was director for Archbishop of
Schrattenbach
• Started playing piano when he was 3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• He was considered a child genius
• Age 14 he received the award of the
“Golden Spur” from the pope
• Was concertized with his sister Maria
Anna (nicknamed Nannerl)
• He married Maria Constanze Weber
• They had 6 children together
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Spent a third of his life touring Europe
• “Don Giovanni” and “The Magic Flute”
were two of Mozart’s most important
operas
• “The Requiem” was Mozart’s unfinished
composition when he died
• His student Sussmayr
• Mozart died in the year 1791
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Famous Compositions include:
•“Cosi fan tutte”
•“Don Giovanni”
•“La clemenze di Tito”
•“Requiem”
•“The Magic Flute”
Franz Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn
• Born in 1732 in Austria
• Haydn’s father was a wheelwright
• At 8 Haydn became a choirboy at the
Cathedral of St. Stephen’s
• Younger brother Michael sang in choir
with Haydn
• Had 0 children with wife Maria
Franz Joseph Haydn
• Haydn was employed by Prince Paul
Esterhazy
• 1762 Prince Nicholas Esterhazy
ascends to the throne and is a huge
supporter of Haydn’s music
• Esterhazy family lived most of the year
in Eisenstadt, Germany (their country
place)
Franz Joseph Haydn
• The two most famous Oratorios by
Handel are: “The Creation” “The
Seasons”
• Haydn’s nickname is “Father of the
Symphony”
• Haydn died at the age of 77
Franz Joseph Haydn
Famous Compositions
•“The Creation”
•“Harmoniemesse”
•“Heiligmesse”
•“Nelsonmesse” (Lord Nelson Mass)
•“The Seasons”
•“Paukenmesse”